Why is it sometimes called "Holland" but on maps it says "The Netherlands"? Then why do the people there speak "Dutch"? Shouldn't it sound like the country it's from? Even though German is called Deutche in Germany, but I'm still unsure. Any help from the Dutch people out there?
2006-12-22 13:48:27 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ Europe (Continental) ➔ Netherlands
The official name is The Netherlands. Many people call it Holland and it is somehow accepted.
The language is Dutch.
Holland in fact is the name of two of the twelve provinces of The Netherlands: Noord-Holland and Zuid-Holland.
Hope now it is clear.
2006-12-23 08:03:14 · answer #1 · answered by Martha P 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
In the German and English speech area,even in the Netherlands,people often use the word Holland, instead of the official and correct name Netherlands.
The name Holland originates from the old county or shire Holland ,which
only relates to 2 Provinces (north and south Holland).
It's the common speech,which i personally like best.
2006-12-22 22:49:24 · answer #2 · answered by bozenmoon 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Endie is right. The English mixed Dutch with Deutch.
In addition; the Dutch do mix Nederland and Holland when they speak about the country.
2006-12-23 04:41:04 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's the English language that messes it all up, really.
I am a Dutch person.
We call our country : Nederland
We call our people: Nederlanders
We call our language: Nederlands
Makes sense, doesn't it?
As for Germany:
They call their country: Deutschland
They call their people: Die Deutchen (or Deutschländer)
They call their language: Deutch
And that makes sense also.........
Dutch people about Germany:
We call their country: Duitsland
We call their people: Duitsers
We call their language: Duits
Germans about The Netherlands:
They call our country: Die Niederlände
They call our people: Die Niederländer
They call our language: Niederländisch
(By the way: Holland is an area in The Netherlands. Two of our twelve provinces: North Holland and South Holland.)
10 points please ;-)
2006-12-22 22:58:57 · answer #4 · answered by Endie vB 5 · 3⤊ 3⤋
Endievb is right, I've learnt this in school also.
Give her 10 points! LOL
Many people mistake Holland for The Netherlands, but it is only a part of it.
Holland became the most famous part, because of the history of world wide sea-trade and colonial war ships. Amsterdam and Rotterdam Harbour are in Holland, that's why.......
2006-12-22 23:11:50 · answer #5 · answered by Chesare 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
You should look it up but I think the name change came after one of the world wars. As for the language Dutch and German are actually quite closely related. Dutch is a derivative of Low German which is what most of the Mennonites that came here in the early 1900's spoke.
2006-12-22 21:52:48 · answer #6 · answered by cat 4 · 0⤊ 6⤋
does it surprise you that a country as tolerant as the netherlands cant decide what to call itself?
2006-12-22 21:51:21 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋